West Indies opener John Campbell sent shockwaves through the cricket world on Wednesday, unleashing a brutal and breathtaking batting masterclass in the second ODI against India at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
Wasting no time to stamp his authority, Campbell smashed the fastest ODI fifty by a West Indies batter against India, reaching the landmark in a mere 29 balls and officially breaking Chris Gayle’s iconic 24-year-old record.
Gayle, renowned for his destructive strokeplay, had previously held the benchmark after reaching a fifty off 30 balls against India in Ahmedabad back in 2002, a feat he famously replicated in Port of Spain in 2019. However, Campbell’s calculated aggression on Wednesday carved out a new chapter in West Indies cricket history.
A Calculated Onslaught in Guwahati
After Indian captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to field, the stage was set for an explosive start. Following the early departure of new opening partner Keacy Carty—who stepped in for the injured Justin Greaves—Campbell took it upon himself to shoulder the innings.
Though he began watchfully with a single boundary and five dot balls against Prasidh Krishna, Campbell quickly found his rhythm. He ruthlessly targeted debutant pace bowler Auqib Nabi, capitalising on a lack of movement with the new ball. The seventh over proved to be the turning point: Campbell unleashed a flurry against Krishna, dispatching him for a majestic six and three thunderous fours. Hitting cleanly through the line and exploiting Guwahati’s lightning-fast outfield, he took the aerial route with supreme confidence.
The historic moment arrived in the eighth over when debutant Gurnoor Brar was introduced into the attack. Campbell effortlessly deposited Brar for a colossal six over deep fine leg, bringing up his milestone half-century in just 29 deliveries.
Continued Momentum
This blistering knock marks Campbell’s second consecutive fifty-plus score in the ongoing ODI series, signalling a stunning return to form. Before arriving on the Indian tour, his last major ODI milestone dated back to 2019, when he scored a phenomenal 179 against Ireland.
As Campbell continues to anchor the West Indies batting lineup with newfound dominance, cricket fans will be eagerly watching to see how far his remarkable run of form takes him in the remainder of the series.
